The Truth Of Beef In India

In the past few months, there has been a lot of brouhaha going over beef and meat. Political parties are abusing each other and taking decisions on what one should eat. From Sakshi Maharaj to Manohar Lal Khattar, everyone has given absurd statements about beef eaters and their supporters.

Our intolerant and radical society even ended murdering an innocent man who was blamed for allegedly eating beef (which turned out to be false after the investigation).

Propagating about anything is not a bad idea until and unless its peaceful and is not hampering the fundamental rights of the citizens.

If you don’t want people to eat beef, you must educate them logically. At least explain some valid reasons, why it shouldn’t be consumed and later leave it to their intelligence and conscience to take the decision.

No, I am not going to tell you guys that why you shouldn’t stop eating beef. Choosing the food you eat is a very personal choice and I will leave it that way.

And dear politicians and saviours of ‘holy cow’ this is what you should say to people if you actually want them to abandon meat or beef specifically.

A very callous argument is often made very seriously by meat eaters to vegetarians that its eco-friendly to eat meat. ‘We don’t cut plants to eat and reduce oxygen from the environment.’ Its probably the biggest myth one could ever live with.

Vegetarians Leave Much Less Food Carbon Footprints Than Non-Vegetarians

Yes, you heard it right. A report published in the climatic change journal stated dietary greenhouse emissions of non-vegetarians are twice as high as vegetarians.

And the environmental impact of beef consumption is astronomical, when compared to chicken or pork. It takes 28 times more land and 11 times more water to produce beef, which results in five times more carbon emissions than chicken. And when we compare it to vegetarian food like vegetables, cereals and pulses, beef required 160 times more land and produces 11 times more greenhouse gases.

A UN report report published way back in 2010 stated, “a global shift towards a vegan diet is vital to save the world from hunger, fuel poverty and the worst impacts of climate change.”

“Agriculture, particularly meat and dairy products, accounts for 70% of global freshwater consumption, 38% of the total land use and 19% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.”

These facts speak for themselves that how vegetarians are knowingly or unknowingly helping the environment stay green.

Holy Beef Of India

Government of Maharashtra banned beef citing it is hurting the religious sentiments of the Hindu community. By just imposing the ban and worshipping the sacrosanct animal will not ensure its welfare in any way.

Cows are the major constituent of the dairy industry and reared for purpose. Cows fit for milk production are constantly impregnated and injected with hormones to milk them to the maximum limits. Once these cows become eunuch commercially, they are either sold to slaughterhouses or are abandoned on roads. Abandoned cattle is a common thing in India and beef ban will make the things grim. This is not cruelty? Today nobody is keeping cows to worship them or serve them. Its completely for economic gains.

We don’t think twice before hitting a cow if it enters the farm field to graze or is found sitting in the middle of the road. Several cows die because of eating plastic bags and other filthy waste but nobody cares. Is there any government policy to keep cows safe and healthy once they are abandoned to live on their own?

Beef: Nutritious Food Of Poor

Beef being far cheaper than other meat items and far, far cheaper than lentils is the major constituent of poor people’s ‘nutritious diet’. Ban on beef is simply taking away the most nutritious food of the poor.

Beef Is Big Money

India exported 2.4 million tons of beef and veal in FY 2015 amounting to 23.5 percent of the global exports and the largest exporter of beef in the world.

India has become a country where consuming beef is a bigger crime than sexual harassment. This not what we need. What we need is a debate on price rise where an average person is unable to have a healthy meal thrice a day. Debate should be on how to provide food to the ones who sleep hungry often.